Carton



Aug. 5, 1941. E. w. JoHNsoN Patented Aug. 5, 1941 Edward W. Johnson, Chicago, lll., asslgnor to Chicago Carton Company, Chicago, Ill., a oorporation of Delaware Application October 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,658

7 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to an improved carton and more particularly to a collapsible paper carton. The invention has for its principal object, the provision of a carton which may be produced economically and at low cost, and which will have the attribute of being readily set up or collapsed as occasion requires.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a carton of the character indicated with easily or automatically engageable means for locking the carton in operative or set-up condition, and to provide a carton equipped with such locking means which may be fabricated to folded collapsed condition, from which it may be quickly and easily adjusted to locked, set-up condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein there are illustrated one end portion only of a carton embodying a selected form of the invention and one modiiication thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan of an end portion of a blank for forming the improved carton;

Figure 2 is a plan showing the blank fabricated to a folded, collapsed carton;

Figure 3 is a perspective illustrating certain details of construction;

Figure 4 is a perspective illustrating-an end portion of the improved box in its set-up condition; 1

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 5 but showing a modified construction.

Referring now to the drawing, the blank from which the carton is made may be of a suitable grade of paperboard stock and it is preferably died out to the shape required to form the desired carton, and it is provided with creasesor foldlines indicated in the drawing by dot and dash lines. The arrangement is such that there are provided a bottom panel Ill, side walls II, I2 and I3, the latter representing three ofl four walls of a rectangular carton, a fourth wall being disposed opposite to the wall I2, and corner elements I4 which integrally connect the adjacent ends of the various side walls.

The corner elements I4 are scored diagonally as indicated at I5 and cut laterally as indicated at I6 from the score lines I5 to outer edges of the respective corner elements, so as to permit the latter to be folded upon themselves in a manner well known in the art.

As shown in Figure 1, the laterally extending cut I8 in the corner element I4-a is in the form of a slot, the lower edge of which is preiably in alignment with the cut- I6 in the other corner element I4b. The cut I 8 in the corner element Il-b may be in the form of a y mere slit. The laterally extending cuts in the corner elements result in the formation of tongues marked Il and I8, of which the tongue I1 is narrower than the tongue I8.

In fabricating the carton, the side walls II and I3 are folded inwardly over the bottom I0,

- as shown in Figure 2, and in this instance into overlapping relation to each other.

As an incident to the folding of the walls II and I3 into the said position, the corner elements I4-a and I l-b are also folded inwardly into overlapping relation tothe wall element I2. The folded condition of the vwalls II and I3 and the respective corner elements may conveniently be maintained by uniting the tongues Il and I8 in any suitable manner, for example, through the agency of adhesive as indicated at I9. The wider innermost tongue I8 is caused to overlap the narrower tongue I1 so that a lower marginal portion of the tongue I8 will project beyond the adjacent edge of the tongue I1 in spaced relation to the adjacent portion of the outer wall I2.

I From the folded collapsed condition represented in Figure 2, the carton may be adjusted to operative or set-up condition by folding the end walls such as typified by the end wall I2 upwardly relative to the bottom III with the result that the corner elements I4-a and Il-b will fold upon themselves and will act to raise or unfold the walls II and I3. In the unfolded or set-up condition of the box. the corner elements and the united tongues appear as clearly shown in Figure 3.I

For locking the box in set-up condition, there is provided an extension 20 formed integral with the side wall I2, said extension being foldable relative to the side wall along a suitably located score line as indicated. The extension 20 is provided intermediate its upper and lower edges with a curved slit 2|, with score or fold lines 22, 22, extending laterally from the opposite ends of the slit 2l and with slits 23 which extend laterally from the outer ends of the scores 22, 22. The arrangement is such that the portion 2li-a of the extensionv20 may be bent along the score lines 22, 22, to an oifset relation .to the remainder of the extension 20. As an incident to such bending of the portion 2li-a, a lip portion 24 formed by the curved slit 2l is also offset from the plan of the extension 20. Such offset relationship is shown in Figure 3.

Such bending of the portion 20-a to offset position may be effected as a preliminary step in the setting up of the carton, or it may be effected while in the act of folding the extension 20 inwardly and downwardly to its folded position wherein the extension 20 overlaps the folded corner elements I4 on the inside of the box as shown in Figure 4. In so folding the extension 20, it is convenient to grasp the portions such as 2li-a at opposite ends of the carton so as to bend forward the extension to the position illustrated in Figure 4 and to bend the portion 2li-a to the offset condition illustrated in. Figure 3. As the extension 20 approaches its fully folded position, the lip 24 may be tucked into the space between the lower marginal portion of the tongue i8 and the wall I2, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. Said tongue is relatively short and the stiffness of the paper stock ordinarily used in cartons of this type is such that the inter-engagement of the lip 24 and the tongue I8 may be relied upon to lock the extension 20 in its folded condition as shown in Figure 4, wherein the extension serves to hold the folded corner elements in their folded condition against the wall l2 so as to thereby prevent collapsing of the carton.

If desired, the extension 20 may be equipped with a supplementary extension or flap 25 (as shown in Figure 6i) which is adapted to engage the bottom of the carton to automatically effect bending of the portion 20--a of the extension 20 to its offset position and to more or less automatically guide the lip 24 into locking engagement with the tongue I8. position of the extension 2U, its portion 2li-a and the flap 25 are represented in dotted-lines which serve to'illustrate the method by which the locking tongue may be automatically guided into locking engagement with the tongue portion I8 as an incident to the folding of the locking extension 20 to its folded position, Figure 4.

The described structure provides a box which may be easily manually adjusted from collapsed position to set-up condition and which may be fabricated economically and at low cost to the collapsed position as shown in Figure 2 by automatic paper box machinery.

Modifications in the disclosed structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of "which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible carton which is adapted to be initially fabricated to folded collapsed condition and which comprises bottom and side Walls extending integrally from the periphery of the bottom wall, corner elements integrally connecting adjacent ends of the side walls, the corner elements being folded in pairs into over-lapping relation to pre-determined side Walls as an incident of the folding of the carton to said collapsed condition, said corner elements being provided with fold lines for permitting unfolding of the carton to operative condition with said corner elements folded upon themselves in said overlapping relation to said predetermined side walls, said pairs of corner elements having tongues extending from adjacent edges of said elements into as illustrated in I A partially folded mutually over-lapping relation, said tongues being united to each other, thereby to maintain said corner elements in said over-lapping relation to said pre-determined side walls. the innermost of said tongues having a lower marginal portion projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the outermost tongues, so as to provide tongue portions spaced from the respectively adjacent side walls of the carton, and means for engaging said spaced tongue portions for locking the carton in set-up condition.

2. 1n' a collapsible carton which is adapted to be initially fabricated to folded collapsed condition and which comprises bottom and side walls extending integrally from the periphery of the bottom wall, corner elements integrally connecting adjacent ends of the side Walls, the corner elements being folded in pairs into over-lapping relation to pre-determined side Walls as an incident of the folding .of the carton to said collapsed condition, said corner elements being provided with fold lines for permitting unfolding of the carton to operative condition with said corner elements folded upon themselves in said over-lapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, said pairs of corner elements having tongues extending from adjacent edges of said elements into mutually over-lapping relation, said tongues being united to each other, thereby to maintain said corner elements in said over-lapping relation to said predetermined side walls, and means for locking the carton in set-up condition comprising extensions integral with said wall members and foldable into over-lapping relation to said tongues, the innermost of said tongues having a lower marginal portion projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the outermost tongues so as to provide tongue portions spaced from the side wall of the carton and said extensions having lips adapted to be tucked into the spaces between said projecting tongue portions and the carton walls.

3. In a collapsible carton which is adapted to be initially fabricated to folded collapsed condition and which comprises bottom and side walls extending integrally from the periphery of the bottom Wall, corner elements integrally connecting adjacent ends of the side walls, the corner elements being folded in pairs into over-lapping relation to pre-determined side walls as an incident of the folding of the carton to said collapsed condition, said corner elements being provided with fold lines for permitting unfolding of the carton to operative condition with said corner elements folded upon themselves in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, said pairs of corner elements having tongues extending from adjacent edges of said elements into mutually over-lapping relation, said tongues Ibeing united to each other, thereby to maintain said corner elements in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, and means for locking the carton in set-up condition comprising extensionsV integral with said wall members and f 'ldable into over-lapping relation to said ton ues, the innermost of said tongues having a lower marginal portion projecting Ibeyond the adjacent edge of the outermost tongues so as to provide tongue portions spaced from the side walls of the carton, said extensions being slitted and scored so as to form in each extension an upwardly projecting lip and so as to permit bending of each extension to odset said lip from the normal plane of the extension, thereby to facilitate the tucking of said lips into v 2,251,627 the space between said projecting tongue portions and the adjacent wall portions.

bending of the lower portion of each extension inwardly relative to the upper portion thereof,

4'. In a collapsible carton which is adapted ltothereby to offset said lip outwardly, the innermost of said tongues having lower marginal porbe initially fabricated to folded collapsed condition and which comprises bottom and side walls extending integrally from the periphery of the bottom wall, corner elements integrally connecting adjacent ends of the side walls, the corner elements being folded-in pairs into over-lapping relation to pre-determined side walls as an incident of the folding of the carton to said collapsed conditionysaid corner elements being provided with foldlines for permitting unfolding of the carton to Aoperative condition with said vcorner elements folded upon themselves in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, said pairs of corner elements having tongues extendingfrom adjacent edges of said elements intel-mutually over-lapping relation, said tonguesl being united to each other. thereby to maintain said corner elements in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, means for locking the carton in set-up conditioncomprising extensions integral -with said wall members and foldable into over-lapping relation to said tongues, the vinnermost of said tongues having a lower marginal portion spaced from the side walls of the carton, said extensions being slitted and scored so as to form in each extension an upwardly projecting lip and so as to permit bending of each extension to offset said lip fromthe normal plane of the extension, thereby to facilitate the tucking of said lips into the space between said projecting tongue portions and the adjacent wall portions, and means for effecting said bending. of said extensions as an incident to the folding thereof into locking position.

5, In a collapsible carton which is adapted to be initially fabricated to folded collapsed condition and which comprises bottom and side walls extending integrally from the periphery of the bottom wall, corner elements integrally connecting adjacent ends of the side walls, the corner elements being folded in pairs into over-lapping relation to pre-determined side walls as an incident of the folding of the carton to said collapsed condition, said corner elements being provided with fold` lines for permitting unfolding of the carton to operative condition with said corner elements folded upon themselves in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, said pairs of corner elements having tongues extending from adjacent edges of said elements into mutually over-lapping relation, said tongues being united to each other, thereby to maintain said corner elements in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, and means for locking the carton in set-up condition comprising extensions integral with said wall members and foldable into over-lapping relation to said tongues, the innermost of said tongues having alower marginal portion projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the outermost tongues so as to provide tongue portions spaced from the side wall of the carton, said extensions beingv respectively formed integral with said pre-determined side walls, slitted intermediate their top and bottom edges so as to provide upwardly extending' lips, scored along lines extending laterally from the ends of said lip-forming slits, and slitted downwardly from the outer ends of said scores so as to permit tions projecting beyond the adjacent edges of the outermost tongues in'spaced relation to the adjacent wall portions, said lips being adapted, when onset outwardly, to be inserted behind said lower tongueportions.

6..In a collapsible carton which is adapted to l be initially fabricated to folded collapsed condi-- tion and which comprises bottom and side walls extending integrally from the periphery of the bottom wall, corner elements integrally connecting adjacent ends of the side walls, the corner elements being folded in pairs into over-lapping relation to pre-determined side walls as an incident of the folding of the carton to said col- :lapsed condition, said corner elements being provided with fold lines for permitting unfolding of the carton to operative condition with said corner said wall members and foldable into over-lapping relation to said tongues, the innermost of said tongues having a lower marginal portion projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the outermost tongues so as toprovide tongue portions spaced from the side wall of the carton, said extensions being respectively formed integral with said predetermined side walls, slitted intermediate their tcp and bottom edges so as to provide upwardly extending lips, scored along lines extending laterally from the ends of said lip-forming slits, and slitted downwardly from the outer ends of said scores so as to permit bending of the lower portion of `each extension inwardly relative to the upper portion thereof, thereby to offset said lip outwardly, the innermost of said tongues having lower marginal portions projecting beyond the adjacent edges of the outermost tongues in spaced relation to the adjacent wall portions, said lips being adapted, when offset outwardly. to be inserted behind said lower tongue portions, and means for effecting bending of said extensions as an incident to the folding thereof into locking position.l

7. In a collapsible carton which is adapted to lapsed condition, said corner elements being provided with fold lines for permitting unfolding of the carton to operative condition with said comer elements folded upon themselves in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side walls, saidv pairs of corner elements having tongues extending from adjacent edges of said elements into mutually over-lapping relation, said tongues being united to each other, thereby to maintain said corner elements in said overlapping relation to said pre-determined side wallsl and means for locking the carton in set-up condition comprising extensions integral with said wall members and foldable intooverlapping relation to said tongues, the inner-most of said tongues having a lower marginal portion projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the outermost tongues so as to provide tongue portions spaced from the side wall of the carton, said extensions being respectively formed integral with said pre-determined side walls, slitted intermediate their top and bottom edges so as to provide upwardly extending lips. scored along lines extending laterally from the ends of said lip-forming slits, and slitted downwardly from Cir the outer ends of said scores so as to permit l5 bending of the lower portion of each extension inwardly relative to the upperl portion thereof, thereby to offset said lip outwardly, the innermost of said tongues having lower`- marginal portions projecting beyond the adjacent edges of the outermost tongues in spaced relation to the adjacent wall portions, said lips being adapted, when offset outwardly, to be inserted behind said lower tongue portions, and bottom engaging members, respectively integral with said extensions for automatically effecting bending of said extensions as an incident to the folding thereof to locked position, thereby to facilitate engagement of said lips with said lower tongue portions.

EDWARD W. JOHNSON. 

